A quiet luxury home doesn’t need to beg for attention. It welcomes you in like an old friend—with timeless materials, thoughtful design, and those little details that feel both familiar and special. The Lake Ferry House gets that completely. It’s inspired by family, rooted in Tennessee, and built to feel natural and lasting—a place where old memories and new beginnings live side by side. Let me take you behind the scenes and share the inspiration, the hurdles, and those small moments that make this house truly feel like home.
When Grandmother’s House Meets Modern Dreams
The vision for the Lake Ferry House began with something truly special: our client’s grandmother’s home. They dreamed of a modern farmhouse with a hint of nostalgia—that perfect mix of old and new that makes you want to kick off your shoes and stay awhile. That gentle inspiration touched every single decision, from the graceful arch of a doorway to the way morning light spills across the kitchen counters.
When Mother Nature Throws You A Curveball
You know how every custom home build has its story? Well, this one started with the land itself giving us something to think about. The lot had a serious slope—we’re talking a nine-foot foundation on one side and only four feet on the other.
Rather than building a full basement (which would have meant significant costs for insulation, framing, drywall, and finishes), we sat down with our clients and got creative. We carved out a small garage space underneath, perfect for motorcycles and lawn equipment, while the rest became a generous crawl space storage. Sometimes the best solutions are the ones that keep things practical while staying true to your vision.
The Details That Tell the Story
You know what I love about a quiet luxury home? It’s how the materials themselves tell the story. At Lake Ferry, every choice feels intentional. The brick brings a clean, classic look to the exterior, while those presidential asphalt shingles give the roofline character.
Step inside, and the custom cabinetry gives you that sense of permanence—like this home has been here forever and will be here long after we’re gone. Those arches throughout (especially that dreamy arched shower entrance) add just the right touch of subtle elegance. The kitchen’s heart is that gorgeous natural stone—timeless doesn’t even begin to cover it. And in the laundry room and master bathroom, the shiplap walls create this cozy dimension that makes you want to linger.
Floors | Kitchen Drawer Pulls | Island Pendants | Great Room Chandelier | Fireplace Stone | Cabinet Paint Color
The hardware, the light fixtures—none of it’s flashy, but each piece carries this quiet confidence that just grounds the whole space in beauty and longevity. These details speak for themselves, really.
A Home That Belongs
Set on two wooded acres in Tennessee, the Lake Ferry House feels like it grew right out of the ground. The modern farmhouse style doesn’t fight the landscape—it embraces it.
Stone, brick, wood—they all work together to connect this home to its surroundings in the most natural way. This is how you create something that will age gracefully, feeling timeless against that beautiful Tennessee backdrop.
Our Favorite Room in the House
If I had to pick a favorite space in this whole build (and trust me, it’s hard to choose), I’d have to go with the master bathroom. The design feels so intentional, yet completely effortless—exactly what quiet luxury style is all about.
Instead of going with the expected freestanding tub, our clients chose a drop-in that feels so much more cozy and right. The shiplap walls add that perfect subtle texture, while the arched shower opening just softens everything beautifully. Neutral tile keeps things timeless, and those polished nickel finishes? They bring exactly the right touch of luxury without trying too hard.
Those Behind-the-Scenes Moments
Every build has its stories, and at Lake Ferry, one of my favorites happened when we decided to remove the faux chimney from the plans. Derek went up on the roof, cut it into three pieces, and just tossed it down. It was so practical, so matter-of-fact—but somehow it captured exactly how decisions evolve when you’re actually building. Sometimes the best moments are the unplanned ones.
What Quiet Luxury Really Means
This home is such a perfect example of what we mean when we talk about quiet luxury homes. At first glance, it doesn’t scream for attention or try to impress anyone. You might not even guess it’s a $1.2 million build. But everything about it whispers quality.
From those natural materials to the timeless finishes, the Lake Ferry House shows what elevated but approachable really looks like. This is luxury custom home building at its heart—refined, intentional, and built to last not just years, but generations.
A Little Wisdom for Your Journey
If there’s one thing this project taught us, it’s that thoughtful planning is everything. We used a detailed planner, created inspiration boards, and ordered what felt like countless samples before making final decisions. All that preparation meant every finish felt cohesive and exactly right.
If you’re starting to dream about your own custom home build, our free custom home building checklist is such a great place to begin. And for those ready to dive deeper, our Complete Homebuilding Guidebook walks you through every single stage of your build.
Quiet Luxury Says Everything
The Lake Ferry House proves something beautiful: quiet luxury homes don’t need to be flashy to feel incredibly special. By layering natural materials, incorporating timeless details, and making elevated design choices, this build created a space that feels both welcoming and enduring. It’s a gentle reminder that the most beautiful homes are often those that quietly showcase their quality rather than loudly display their wealth.
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Welcome to The Cottage Journal - our corner of the internet where we share the heart behind Wiersma Homes. Here you'll find stories from the job sites, design ideas we're loving, behind-the-scenes decisions from our own builds, and the lessons we've learned helping families create homes that feel timeless and deeply personal. Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already building, we hope these notes inspire and equip you to create a home you love living in.
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When it came time to start planning the exterior of our property, we quickly realized that designing over an acre of land wasn’t something we could tackle alone.
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